Worried about hair thinning? Here’s everything you need to know, plus the best hair thickening products to look out for.

Hair thickening products are sought after to treat and improve the appearance of fine and thinning hair. There are tons of products out there to choose from, some of which are more suitable than others, depending on the condition of your hair and scalp.

Lots of different things can contribute to thinning hair and hair loss, including hereditary conditions, pulling back the hair too much, overprocessing your hair and much more. Let’s dive into fine hair, thinning hair, why hair loss happens, and what products to use to improve the condition of your hair and scalp.

What causes hair loss and thinning hair?

Hair loss and thinning of the hair can be caused by one or a variety of factors, such as:

• A hereditary condition
• Stress
• Illness and/or medication affecting the hair folicles
• Alopecia areata
• Cancer treatment
• Hormonal changes
• Dyeing and bleaching hair too often
• Excessive and tight hair styling.

There are certain things that can increase the rate of hair loss too, such as:

• Poor nutrition
• Age
• Family history of hair loss
• Significant weight changes.

It’s worth checking with your doctor why your hair is thinning, especially if you don’t use tight hair styles or aren’t experiencing any obvious signs of stress. A blood test can check to see your vitamin levels, but they’ll be able to test for other things if they suspect other reasons for thinning hair.

Do hair thickening shampoos work?

Yes and no.

Hair thickening shampoos aren’t capable of changing the structure of your hair. Your head contains a finite number of hair follicles, which contain a root from which your hair grows from. Some people naturally have less than others, sometimes in places you may find more noticeable, such as your hairline. It’s impossible to use products, including hair thickening shampoos to increase the number of hair follicles on your scalp.

How do hair thickening shampoos work?

Hair thickening shampoos do exactly what they say. They help improve the appearance of your hair by thickening it. It does so by reducing the amount of space in between your strands of hair. 

Hair thickening shampoos will contain chemicals that swell the hair to give it thickness. This comes in the form of protein and panthenol (or some other kind of polymer). The panthenol is responsible for thickening the hair, whereas the proteins will strengthen the outer layer. You may find these hair thickening products contain a variety of scents and moisturisers in there too, to improve the look and feel of your hair.

What is the difference between thickening shampoo and volumising shampoo?

In simple terms, volumising shampoo adds lift, and thickening shampoo reduces the space between hair, making it look thicker.

Thickening shampoos work by infusing your hair with proteins, moisturising ingredients and polymers to thicken it. It’s favoured by those with fine hair, but too much of a good thing can be detrimental, so use it sparingly. 

Volumising shampoo, on the other hand, focuses on the scalp. This is so lifting is created from the top of your head, hence creating a voluminous appearance to flat hair. There’s little to no residue or build-up too. Volumising shampoos incorporate ingredients to enhance follicle structure, maximize lift, and clean without leaving residue build-up. These come in the form of oils, caffeine, herbs and other natural ingredients like bamboo or sage to manage oil production (which contributes to flat hair).

Best hair thickening shampoos

The Hair Lab by Mark Hill Strengthening Growth Shampoo — £5.99

One of the shampoos to thicken hair, the Hair Lab by Mark Hill was specifically formulated for those with fine and thinning hair. It’s enriched with 100% natural essential oils, including Moroccan Argan Oil, Lemon Oil, ProVitamin B5, Caffeine and Biotin. It’s a gentle formula that promises no build-up too, making it one of the best thickening shampoos with no build-up on the market.

Get a Boots student discount.

Tresemme Thick and Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo — £8.73

Tresemme has been around for a while, being known as a brand for achieving salon results at home. This duo contains a shampoo to thicken hair as well as nourish it too.

The Tresemme thick and full shampoo with Biotin & Collagen promises visibly thicker and fuller hair after one use, thanks to its infusion of collagen and glycerine that penetrates the hair to make it appear voluminous. Plus, the thick and full biotin and collagen shampoo are available to order fast on Amazon!

Get an Amazon student discount.

Best hair thickening conditioners

Bumble and bumble Thickening Conditioner — £29

Bumble and bumble are known for their thickening treatments. Their conditioner gets a special mention, thanks to their Aloe Vera and Provitamin B5 infusion. It promises to add moisture to your locks and plumping the hair for a thicker-looking mane.

Get a LOOKFANTASTIC student discount.

Aveda Invati Advanced Thickening Conditioner — £12

Aveda is a luxury name we know and love, and their advanced hair thickening conditioner is one to keep an eye out for. Designed specifically for fine and thickening hair, the Aveda Invati Advanced Thickening Conditioner is infused with Guar, Palm and Grapeseed-derived ingredients. These botanicals, combined with their densiplex™  technology consisting of turmeric and Ginseg, boost the elasticity of their hair and minimises breakage. The result? Voluminous hair that appears thicker and revived.

Get a LOOKFANTASTIC student discount.

Best hair thickening oils

Hair oils are great alternatives hair growth serum products. This is because they don’t cause much build-up at all. Just be sure to wash your hair thoroughly between showers!

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Growth Oil — £9.99

Hair-thickening oils and hair growth oil has been all the craze over on TikTok. This Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Growth oil contains the key ingredient rosemary, which has been known to help with thickening hair and regrowth. It has over 30 natural ingredients and while we won’t bore you with the entire list, some of these ingredients are super nice, such as coconut, tea tree, basil, burdock and evening primrose.

Get a Superdrug student discount.

Forest & Shore Thrive Hair Oil — £17.09 

Emily, the founder of Forest & Shore, formulated their own product after experiencing allergic reactions with more commonly found ingredients. If you’re suffering from hair loss, use this as a hair growth oil. it contains baobab, coffee and rosemary oils to stimulate growth, plus almond, olive and lavender oils to strengthen and nourish the hair.

Get an Amazon student discount.

MoroccanOil Thickening Oil — £20.85

The OG of hair oils at a bit of a premium (not with our discount though!), MoroccanOil Thickening Oil does what it says. Formulated with Argan oil, it promises o moisturise and nourish the hair, preventing the dry, sticky texture traditionally associated with volumising products. It’s the perfect, natural alternative to conventional creams and serums. It’s still one of the best hair products for volume out there. For best results, use on completely clean hair.

Get an HQ Hair student discount.

Best hair thickening serums

Label.M Thickening Cream — £13.95

Made with bran, Barbados cherry and Amazonian cupuacu fruit to add moisture and lustre, this amazing cream from Label.M adds body, shine, and thickness, and even protects against heat damage. Simply apply it to damp hair, comb through and dry your hair in sections for the best results. 

Get an HQ Hair student discount.

Best hair thickening treatments for fine hair, thinning hair and hair loss

Below are some of the best hair volume products to add thickness to your hair. You can use these on damp or dry hair (depending on which product you choose).

Undone by George Northwood Volume Spray — £15

Is your fine hair limp and flat? The Undone by George Northwood Volume Spray is one of the best hair thickening sprays on the market. By spraying on the mid-lengths and ends of the hair, you can thicken your hair’s appearance and add gorgeous textures. Plus, it’s vegan! And the bottle can be fully recycled.

Get a Boots student discount.

Grow Gorgeous Intense Thickening Hair and Scalp Mask — £20

One of the best products for thinning hair, this Grow Gorgeous mask is made with a blend of amino acids and caffeine. The Grow Gorgeous Intense Thickening Hair and Scalp mask is designed to make thinning hair look and feel fuller, and of course, thicker. It’s got quite a thick consistency, thanks to its added coconut oil and hyaluronic acid. It does take a while to get used to and results can appear in as little as a few weeks of regular use.

Get a LOOKFANTASTIC student discount.

We hope these hair thickening and hair volumising shampoos, conditioners and treatments help! Don’t forget to sign up to Student Beans to redeem our health and beauty student discounts to save cash on our product recommendations.

This article is for information purposes only. Please seek professional advice if you’re worried about any underlying conditions that could be the cause behind your hair thinning.